Tour of project farm an eye-opener

FOCUS FARMING: Almost 70 farmers got the low-down on the Central Progeny Test project at Koromiko Farm in Wairarapa, during a focus day partnered by Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre and Beef+Lamb New Zealand. PHOTO / SUPPLIED

Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre and Beef+Lamb New Zealand hosted a tour of Wairarapa's Koromiko Farm, a Central Progeny Test property that has helped influence every flock in New Zealand.

Koromiko is the amalgamation of two adjoining sheep and beef farms.

Taratahi leased the properties in 2011 to provide real training on a high performance commercial farm, says Yvonne Way, marketing and communications manager for the centre.

Koromiko, which is one of five B+LNZ Central Progeny Test (CPT) project farms, is an 840ha property consisting of a combination of easy, rolling and steep land and is run as a sheep and beef breeding and semi-finishing unit.

"The CPT was established in 2002 and has helped accelerate genetic gain across sheep breeds and also has had a direct impact on every sheep flock in New Zealand," Mrs Way said.

Almost 70 farmers attended the all-day event last week, which was focused on ewe hogget reproduction and the CPT, with a Koromiko Farm tour in the afternoon.

The morning session was an interesting mix of presentations on how to plan for a successful hogget mating programme, Mrs Way said.

Richard Hilson of Hawke's Bay Vets discussed management guidelines to maximise ewe hogget production, she said, and Sully Alsop of Baker & Associates quantified the profitability of hogget mating and the extra feed required to do it properly. The morning was wrapped up with a panel made up of three farmers all managing hogget mating differently but all successfully, George Moore (Homeward Road/Riversdale), Simon Mackay (Alfredton) and Paul Crick from Taratahi.

Mr Crick, centre sheep and beef farm manager, was very pleased with the focus day.

"The speakers were spot on, people want to hear from farmers who are doing it well and they certainly got that from the farmers we had at the focus day," Mr Crick said.

The day finished with a farm tour of Koromiko, Mrs Way said.

"After presentations and discussion sessions, it was great to get all the farmers out of the wool shed and on-farm, they could see why Koromiko was chosen as a site for the CPT ..."